CHILDREN WARNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 170, 20 July 1935, Page 11

CHILDREN WARNED.

HAWKE'S BAY TRAGEDY

SUGGESTED SAFETY RULES

CIRCULAR TO HEADMASTERS

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

HASTINGS, this day.

A circular to headmasters of all schools in the district containing advice to children coming and going from school is to be issued by the Hawke's Bay Education Board as a result of the murder of the school girl, Joan Rattray.

At yesterday's meeting of the board, the chairman, Mr. G. A. Maddison, suggested that all teachers should have impressed upon them the necessity of giving warning at' frequent and regular intervals to children.

"The ease of Joan Rattray has wider importance to the board than the mere circumstances of her death, - ' remarked Mr. Maddison. "I am aware that teachers do their utmost to ensure the protection of pupils while going to and from school, but this incident shows how difficult it is to protect children in all circumstances. We must strive to impress more and more on pupils simple rules which they should observe. I know that since this incident all teachers have warned their pupils, and this should be done frequently and thoroughly." List of "Don'ts." Mr. Maddison enumerated a. list of "Don'ts" which had been drawn up by the headmaster of the Mahora School, Mr. E. Bisscll. They are:—

"Boys and girls on their way to and from school arc not on any account to stop and talk to strange men. Hurry 011 with your classmates.

"Do not take pennies for sweets or any favours from any strange person.

"If any person whom you do not know oilers to take you homo 011 his bicycle, say, 'No, thank you,' and walk on.

"Do not on any account go for a ride on your bicycle with anyone you do not know.

"If a strange person asks you to ride in his motor car, kindly say, 'No, thank you,' and hurry on.

"If you are afraid of a man or youth, or if he is following you, walk in at the nearest gate and knock at the door, or call out loudly.

"Keep with your classmates. Don't go to or from school alone."

"Wo know in some of these cases children have fallen victims by takingpennies," said Mr. Maddison. "If these points are observed, I thing a repetition of the recent sad occurrence may bo averted."

It was pointed out that children occasionally stopped cars and asked for rides, to which the chairman replied that children should be told never to do this unless they were sure the drivers were friends.